one which is identified and labeled as such only by its detractors
Only if the dictionary is one of their detractors. It's a simple dictionary definition, not the primary or even secondary one, but still: "a principle or doctrine devoutly held and pursued." Not all atheism is religious. But when you think about it, strong atheism requires not an absence of faith but quite a quantity of faith to believe that no god(s) exist(s). Proving that no god(s) exist(s) is quite a tougher proposition than proving that a god does exist. It is belief in the absence of proof, the most prosaic definition of faith.
A religion is a fundamentally social phenomenon.
No, a religion is fundamentally an institution of ideas. A congregation is a social phenomenon, but modern history has shown exactly how widespread the "religion of one" actually is. For example, Christianity is no longer one religion, but a family of related religions, same as Hinduism and Buddhism.
I find more that binds the strong atheist to the typical "religious" than separates them: the proselytizing, the zealousness, the formulation of a doctrine, etc.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 04:32 pm (UTC)Only if the dictionary is one of their detractors. It's a simple dictionary definition, not the primary or even secondary one, but still: "a principle or doctrine devoutly held and pursued." Not all atheism is religious. But when you think about it, strong atheism requires not an absence of faith but quite a quantity of faith to believe that no god(s) exist(s). Proving that no god(s) exist(s) is quite a tougher proposition than proving that a god does exist. It is belief in the absence of proof, the most prosaic definition of faith.
A religion is a fundamentally social phenomenon.
No, a religion is fundamentally an institution of ideas. A congregation is a social phenomenon, but modern history has shown exactly how widespread the "religion of one" actually is. For example, Christianity is no longer one religion, but a family of related religions, same as Hinduism and Buddhism.
I find more that binds the strong atheist to the typical "religious" than separates them: the proselytizing, the zealousness, the formulation of a doctrine, etc.